Sir William was very happy after the interview and when the President left us he remained to talk to me and to express his gratification.  He cleared up in the President’s mind all suspicion, I think, in regard to concessions and as to the intentions and purposes of the British Government.  He assured the President that his government would work cordially with ours and that they would do all that they could to bring about joint pressure through Germany and France for the elimination of Huerta.

We are going to give them a chance to see what they can do with Huerta before moving any further.  Sir William thinks that if we are willing to let Huerta save his face he can be got out without force of arms.

Sir William said that if foreign diplomats could have heard our conversation they would have fallen in a faint; it was so frankly indiscreet and undiplomatic.  I did not tell him so, but I had it in the back of my mind that where people wanted to do right and had the power to carry out their intentions there was no need to cloak their thoughts in diplomatic language.

     All this makes me very happy for it looks as if we are in sight of
     the promised land.

I am pleased to tell you of the compliments that have been thrown at you by the President, Mr. Bryan, and Sir William.  They were all enthusiastic over your work in London and expressed the keenest appreciation of the way in which you have handled matters.  Sir William told me that he did not remember an American Ambassador that was your equal.

     Faithfully yours,

     E.M.  HOUSE.

So far as a meeting between a British diplomat and the President of the United States could solve the Mexican problem, that problem was apparently solved.  The dearest wish of Mr. Wilson, the elimination of Huerta, seemed to be approaching realization, now that he had persuaded Great Britain to support him in this enterprise.  Whether Sir William Tyrrell, or Sir Edward Grey, had really become converted to the President’s “idealistic” plans for Mexico is an entirely different question.  At this time there was another matter in which Great Britain’s interest was even greater than in Mexico.  These letters have already contained reference to tolls on the Panama Canal.  Colonel House’s letter shows that the President discussed this topic with Sir William Tyrrell and gave him assurances that this would be settled on terms satisfactory to Great Britain.  It cannot be maintained that that assurance was really the consideration which paved the way to an understanding on Huerta.  The conversation was entirely informal; indeed, it could not be otherwise, for Sir William Tyrrell brought no credentials; there could be no definite bargain or agreement, but there is little question that Mr. Wilson’s friendly disposition toward British shipping through the Panama Canal made it easy for Great Britain to give him a free hand in Mexico.